Date of Award

Summer 2024

Project Type

Thesis

College or School

CHHS

Department

Nursing

Departments (Collect)

Department of Nursing

Program or Major

Direct Entry Master's in Nursing

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Pamela Kallmerten

Second Advisor

Elizabeth Evans

Abstract

Background

In the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU), patients often suffer from poor sleep quality due to continuous overnight care and inherent hospital environment noise. Poor sleep can adversely affect recovery, especially for cardiac patients, who constitute a significant portion of the IMCU population. Improving sleep quality in these patients is essential for their recovery and overall well-being.

Local Problem

Despite the importance of adequate sleep, only 47% of patients in the hospital that houses the microsystem reported a quiet environment at night using the Hospital Compare online survey platform. Disruptions from alarms, phones, and care activities significantly impact sleep quality, leading to prolonged hospital stays and adverse health outcomes.

Methods

A quality improvement project was implemented to enhance sleep quality for IMCU patients through healthcare staff education. The project involved a literature review, identification of effective non-pharmacological interventions, and the development of an educational program for healthcare staff. Interventions included the use of earplugs, eye masks, music therapy, and sleep hygiene education for both staff and patients. The project's effectiveness was measured using healthcare staff surveys on perceived patient sleep quality.

Results

The interventions led to an improvement in healthcare staff perceived sleep quality among IMCU patients to 61% compared to the pre-intervention score of 40.80%. Healthcare staff knowledge surrounding the importance of sleep, and their confidence in sleep promoting skills both revealed improvement The use of earplugs and eye masks, combined with staff education on sleep hygiene, were particularly effective in enhancing sleep quality.

Conclusions

Implementing non-pharmacological interventions and educating healthcare staff about sleep hygiene can significantly improve sleep quality for patients in the IMCU. Future projects should focus on sustaining these interventions and exploring additional strategies to enhance inpatient sleep quality.

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